Social Etiquette You Need To Know To Avoid Being Branded A Doucheasaurus

The rules of social etiquette online are no different than those when meeting someone face to face.

The only difference is in the vast reach that repercussions of poor etiquette have online compared to in person. The paramount of which is being branded {in every sense of the word} a doucheasaurus.

Etiquette isn’t about dictating who you are, it’s about being mindful of conventional norms.

With that said, the barometer of acceptability is a sliding scale and different for all of us. There are things one person will do that another wouldn’t {uh, maybe saying ‘doucheasaurus’ in their headline?} and that’s OK. Variety is the spice of life!

However, there ARE some universal faux pas that WILL get you branded a doucheasaurus online with a click of the send button. Decorum that will NEVER serve you to challenge.

**DISCLAIMER: Make no mistake, this etiquette is in no way exclusively offensive to online behavior, but for the purposes of this article I’m going to reference behavior in terms of social media and online interactions.**

With that disclaimer off my chest let’s get to the good stuff… 

Here are 5 cardinal rules of social etiquette that must be followed online if you want to build a thriving brand.

1. GIVE PEOPLE CREDIT

Not giving credit where credit is due is like introducing yourself to someone by bitch slapping them instead of shaking their hand.

The intention and logic behind taking credit for what’s not yours is incredibly misguided.

Part of the flawed logic of this unethical approach stems from the rampant misconception that if you give someone else credit for something it some how cheapens your value.

In reality, cheapening your value is only the beginning of the social consequences that will rain down on you when you don’t give proper credit.

It may feel harmless or easily justified as ‘borrowing’ sometimes but I promise you, passing off another person’s work as your own, regardless of intent, is social suicide. It’s also down right counter-intuitive when you realize the tangible benefits of incorporating other people’s work into yours and crediting these sources in your content and social efforts.

There are two colossal benefits that can come from leveraging someone’s work and crediting them on social media.

➽ It can position you as an expert on your topic
➽ It can open up a dialogue and build rapport with someone you want to establish a relationship with

The truth is…

Putting a screen and keyboard in front of you doesn’t change acceptable social etiquette when it comes to being a thief. You wouldn’t introduce yourself to someone by slapping them across the face in person so don’t be reckless enough to do it online.

The sting of being labeled a thief on social media is an inscription that will follow you and remain forever synonymous with your brand.

Soooo, unless you want your first impression and all impressions there after to be that you’re a thieving troll than you’d better extend the proverbial virtual handshake and give credit where credit is due!

If you want to know what someone {ok, me} would do to you if you take credit for something that’s theirs, check out how I socially shamed the hell out of the thieving troll that just did it to me. Take care to note the outpouring of support.

People don’t mess around when it comes to thievery. Believe that!

 

2. AVOID GRAMMAR POLICING

Correcting spelling and grammar errors on social media is like telling someone that sent you flowers that the delivery place bent the card.

Be grateful for the value you get out of someone thing, instead of focusing on the perfectionism in it.

Pointing out spelling and grammar errors publicly isn’t going to win you any social points or bestow you with any grammatical accolades.

Let’s cut the crap, most of us would be up sh*t creek without a paddle if it wasn’t for spell check.

It’s the digital age. Understand that things happen, technology acts up, errors occur. Social media isn’t a place to publicly point out these types of things.

Resist the temptation to nest on the holier than thou grammar policing perch and get over it. I promise the alternative isn’t going to offer you anything favorable.

I’m sure you’ve already found errors in this article {apparently ‘etiquette’ isn’t a word I knew how to spell}. In fact, I know my trusted GNP {Grammar Nazi Posse} will email me to let me know where the errors are. And I love them for it!!

You know what they won’t do? Put me on blast in the comments of my post or on social media. They aren’t dbags like that.

Unless you have a rapport with someone let it go. If a couple of harmless grammatical errors is all you walked away with from someone’s content chances are your one track mind is stuck in a policing state of douchebaggery.

To those people…may auto correct screw with you in the most glorious ways, because that’s the only big bundle of karma coming your way.

3. DON’T ASK FOR A FOLLOW

Asking someone to follow you after you’ve followed them on social media is like complimenting someone and then asking them for one back.

It’s pitiful and pathetic, not to mention meaningless.

There’s three main reasons why someone will follow you because you asked them for it in return:

➽ They don’t want to be rude.
➽ They pity you.
➽ They’re playing the numbers game.

None of which has any value!

The fact is, if your social followers are based on follows you had to ask for in return to yours you’ve got a big heap of nothing. No one that has to be asked to follow out of reciprocity has any interest or investment in your cause or message.

If you’re more concerned with the vanity in social follower numbers than the validity of your followers you have a misguided understanding of what social media is about.

Do you honestly think following people so they follow you is going to make you money or lead to a monetary investment? Newsflash, it’s not.

Those type of followers are as meaningless as a compliment you had to ask for. To spare your brand integrity you MUST avoid this cheap tactic at all costs.

Create great content. Engage with others in genuine ways. Be consistent. Build a list. These are the efforts that are going to build and grow a valuable social following.

4. TRADE MONOLOGUES FOR DIALOGUES

Making everything about you on social media is like being that creep at the bar that goes from table to table trying to get everybody’s phone number.

Creating connections on social media isn’t about shouting for attention. In fact, that kind of behavior is going to drastically hurt your credibility and negatively impact your brand perception.

It’s this gross misunderstanding of true social engagement that has made ‘marketing’ a dirty word. Make no mistake, the current landscape of social interaction has shifted from from monologues to dialogues, from a ‘me’ space to a ‘we’ space.

It wasn’t until being introduced to ‘digital intimacy’ by Lisa Engles and Yifat Cohen that this shift fell into place for me.

In fact, Lisa Engles put together a 4 part video series on the gravity of measuring ROE {Return on Engagement} opposed to the tradition ROI (Return on Investment}. It’s a must watch for any solopreneur looking to leverage social media to establish meaningful dialogue in the digital stratosphere.

In that series Lisa and her posse of influential powerhouses, Yifat Cohen, Mia Voss and Denise Wakeman, dive deep into the evolution of marketing and endless possibilities of social reach when one stops leading with content and starts leading with conversation.

The truth is, the ability to measure the magnitude of your social reach and the ROE from your efforts will only begin bearing the fruits of your labor when you stop talking at your audience and you start making them a part of an experience. It’s in this ‘we’ space where conversions and brand adoration will grow far and wide.

It’s from these badass broads that I’ve learned…

Conversations lead to connections and connections lead to conversions!Click To Tweet

5. DON’T TRY TO BE SOMEONE ELSE

Trying to be someone you’re not on social media is like getting the same wardrobe, haircut and car as your best friend and going to meet someone they met online. Creepy!

Go original or go home, baby!

There’s three main reasons people try and be someone they’re not on social media:

➽ They don’t know any better.
➽ They don’t believe in themselves.
➽ They’re trying to hide behind a persona that isn’t them because they’re afraid people won’t like the real them.

None of which matters to anyone online. Although they will ALL get you labeled a sellout.

It’s easy to conform to what you think people want to hear, it’s hard to be true to yourself no matter what. People know that, therefore there is no respect in imitation.

YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT:

➽ You can’t be everything to everyone.
➽ Not every is going to like you or agree with you.
➽ Haters are part of the digital era we live in.

I take that back, don’t accept it…celebrate that sh*t!

The more you experience each of these aspects the better off you’re going to be. How so? It means you’re not selling out!

See, most people will respect you, begrudgingly or not, for staying steadfast in who you are, especially when the haters and skeptics begin lobbing disdain your way. On the flip side, NO ONE likes a cheap knock off.

Worrying about people not liking you is going to hold you back and ultimately cost you the people that actually matter!

If someone doesn’t like the language you use, the things you share, or the views you have, they certainly aren’t going to bust open their wallet and invest with you. Soooo, why the hell cater to them? Sacrificing your radical transparency to please the masses or mirroring the persona of someone else is only going to get you branded a sellout online.

There’s nothing badass about being a sellout!Click To Tweet

Being branded a doucheasaurus online is easy to do but virtually impossible to come back from. It’s a connotation that will permeate your brand and follow you around like an STD from spring break. To avoid the certainty of tainting your brand with a horrible reputation make sure you take great care in not breaking any of these cardinal rules.

Let this guide to social etiquette help you establish your favorable and influential brand recognition and you’ll be well on your way to the solopreneur success you so desire.

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